Collaboration was one of the key discussion points at the Commonwealth Parliamentarian’s Forum in Westminster on February 26 – March 1, 2018, with Secretary-General Patricia Scotland leading the panel in discussing `how can [sic] parliamentarians share insights about what works across the Commonwealth, scale ideas and initiatives, and collaborate for sustainable development’
Collaboration was one of the key discussion points at the Commonwealth Parliamentarian’s Forum in Westminster on February 26 – March 1, 2018, with Secretary-General Patricia Scotland leading the panel in discussing `how can [sic] parliamentarians share insights about what works across the Commonwealth, scale ideas and initiatives, and collaborate for sustainable development’.
The event, organised by the UK Commonwealth Parliamentarians’ Association, gave an insight into the four key themes billed for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting agenda, prosperity, security, fairness and sustainability.
Chair of the CPA executive committee, James Duddrige MP, hosted the event, with the UK Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Lord Ahmad, the Deputy President of the Senate in Nigeria, Ike Ekweremadu, and CPA International Chair for Cameroon, Emilia Lifaka MP, joining Secretary-General Scotland on the panel.
The Secretary-General praised the Commonwealth as a “network of networks”, with every profession represented by at least one of the 88 accredited Commonwealth member organisations and committees.
She also pointed to the continued relevance of the Commonwealth Charter, particularly in relation to collaboration on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Scotland said: “The Commonwealth Charter took over two years to agree and is the cornerstone of what has become the [SDGs]… so it is important to recognise that we are a coalition of countries bound together by our values rather than any rigid constitution.
“There is real power and flexibility in that, as it has allowed us to come together and to hone those values that we share and express that commonality.”
Calling the Secretariat the servant of Commonwealth nations, she added: “We have listened to the 53 member states, as to what they want, and are putting together effective and progressive frameworks and toolkits to deliver that change.
“But if the countries tell us that they want something different, we will listen.”
